WOOD PEWEE FLYCATCHER. 151 
head, like. that of the two preceding, 1s loose, subcrested, and of a 
deep brownish black ; wings and tail, deep dusky ; the former edged, 
_on every feather, with yellowish white, the latter forked, and widening. 
remarkably towards the end; bill, formed exactly like that of the King 
Bird ; whole lower parts, a pale, delicate yellow ; legs and bill, wholly 
black ; iris, hazel. The female is almost exactly like the male, except 
in having the crest somewhat more brown. This species inhabits 
from Canada to Florida; great numbers of them usually wintering in 
the two Carolinas and Georgia. In New York they are called the 
Pheeby Bird, and are accused of destroying bees. With many people 
in the country, the arrival of the Pewee serves as a sort of almanac, 
reminding them that now it is time such and such work should be 
done. “Whenever the Pewit appears,” says Mr. Bartram, “‘ we may 
plant peas and beans in the open grounds, French beans, sow radishes, 
onions, and almost every kind of esculent garden seeds, without fear 
or danger from frosts; for, although we have sometimes frosts after 
their first appearance for a night or two, yet not so severe as to injure 
the young plants,” * 
WOOD PEWEE FLYCATCHER,—MUSCICAPA RAPAX.—' 
Fie. 57. 
Muscicapa virens, Linn. Syst. 327.— Lath. Syn 1i. 350. Id. Sup. p. 174, No. 
82.— Catesb. i. 54, fig. 1.— Le Gobe-mouche brun de Ja Caroline, Buff. iv. 
543.— Muscicapa acadica, crests Syst. i. p. 947.— Arct. Zool. 387, No. 
270. —Peale’s Museum, No. 6660. 
TYRANNULA VIRENS.—Janpvine. 
Muscicapa virens, Linn. Syst.— Bonap. Synop. p. 68. 
I wave given the name Wood Pewee to this species, to discrim- 
inate it from the preceding, which it resembles so much in form and 
plumage as scarcely to be distinguished from it, but by an accurate 
examination of both. Yet in manners, mode of building, period of 
migration, and notes, the two species differ greatly. The Pewée is 
among the first birds that visit us in spring, frequenting creeks, build- 
ing in caves, and under arches of bridges; the Wood Pewée, the 
subject of our present account, is among the latest of our summer 
birds, seldom arriving before the 12th or 15th of May ; frequenting the 
shadiest high-timbered woods, where there is little underwood, and 
abundance of dead twigs and branches shooting across the gloom; 
generally in low situations ; builds its nest on the upper side of a limb 
or branch, forming it outwardly of moss, but using no mud, and lining 
it with various soft materials. The female lays five white eggs; and 
the first brood leave the nest about the middle of June. ; 
This species is an exceeding expert fly-catcher. It ‘oves to sit on 
* Travels, p. 288. 
